Christ’s Sacrifice is Sufficient – From the Ashes, part 4
Want opportunity, courage, purpose? This message shows us how sacrifice brings opportunities, reveals courage, and creates purpose.
God is with you always. He lives in you, empowering you to live a life of faith. The sacrifice of Christ offers life, opportunity, and victory. Through Christ, every believer is completely redeemed from the ashes of a former life.
Feeling empty, burned-out, or overwhelmed? Each week this month, we'll look at an aspect of Jesus' life and ministry, where we'll find hope and forgiveness to overcome our struggles.
Does your life sometimes feel like a pile of ashes? The good news of Jesus’ life, death and resurrection means you can experience new life and have your life raised from the ashes. This series will help you grow in faith and understanding of Christ.
Sacrifice is Powerful and Brings Purpose to Life
about this series
Our lives, no matter how bad, are not irredeemable. In other words, you are not broken beyond repair. In and through Christ, you can rise above the ashes and experience abundant life. This series is for anyone who wants to grow in the knowledge and understanding of Christ.
Jesus made the ultimate sacrifice
Today, we’re going to be talking about sacrifice. Jesus’ sacrifice and death paid the sin debt that none of us could pay ourselves. Only the person who places their faith in Jesus receives forgiveness and eternal life. The impact of Jesus’ humble life and sacrifice has had eternal effects on humankind: whoever believes can be forgiven and receive eternal life.
As we consider Easter, only a week away, we are reminded of the day that Jesus entered the city of Jerusalem, almost as if He were royalty. But in only a few days Jesus would be arrested, accused of wrongdoing, whipped, brought before Pilate, crucified and put to death. However, three days later—the day we now celebrate as Easter—He arose victorious over death, hell and the grave.
The Hebrew people experienced the temporary forgiveness of sins by the blood of an animal sacrifice. But we have the great privilege of getting close to God without that kind of ceremony. The sacrifice of Jesus, to leave heaven and offer himself on the cross, was an atoning sacrifice that is effective throughout eternity. Through Christ, every believer is completely redeemed from the ashes of our former life.
Sacrifice Leads to Opportunity
To illustrate the idea of sacrifice, I want to share a story with you from the trenches of World War II, taken from History Collection:
“Fox was born in Cincinnati, Ohio, in May 1915. By all accounts, he was a smart, diligent young man and he earned a place at Wilberforce University. Here, he signed up for the Reserve Officer Training Corp, meaning he not only finished college with a graduate degree, but with a rank of Second Lieutenant. When war broke out, then, he took his commission and joined the 92nd Infantry Division, a segregated division for African-American soldiers that fought with distinction throughout the conflict
With his unit, Fox was sent to the European theater of war. In 1944, he found himself fighting the Nazis in Italy. It was here where, in December of that year, he was tasked to stay behind in the small village of Sommocolonia, in Tuscany. The village had been overrun by Nazis, and Americans were in retreat. Fox found a house to hide in and, from the second floor, he used his radio to contact his colleagues. He called for artillery fire to be directed at the village in order to give the US forces time to retreat, regroup and then launch a counter-attack. Fox even specifically ordered a barrage of fire on his exact position. The gunner who received the message pointed this out to him, assuming it must be some mistake. Fox, however, simply said: “Fire it. There’s more of them than there are us”: famous last words of a true American hero.
Fox’s act of sacrifice was not in vain. As he planned, the artillery barrage did indeed give his comrades the chance to regroup and launch a successful counterattack. When the US army entered Sommocolinia, they found Fox’s body surrounded by the bodies of around 100 Germans.”
The sacrifice of John Robert Fox was a tremendous and costly sacrifice. He gave life, opportunity, and victory to his fellow soldiers in a decisive battle with the Germans.
The sacrifice of Christ also gives life, opportunity, and victory to all who believe. Jesus’ sacrifice gives you the opportunity for victory in the most important battle you will ever encounter, the battle over your soul to be with Christ for all eternity. The sacrifice of Christ is so completely sufficient that there’s no need for any other work to be done. Hanging on the cross, Jesus knew there was no more work to be done. ‘Jesus said, “It is finished.” With that, he bowed his head and gave up his spirit’ (John 19:3, NIV).
There is much to learn from Christ in the area of sacrifice.
Jesus Modeled Sacrifice in His Own Life
Jesus displayed both humility and sacrifice as He ministered to people each and every day.
“Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be used to his own advantage; 7 rather, he made himself nothing by taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness. 8 And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to death—even death on a cross! 9 Therefore God exalted him to the highest place and gave him the name that is above every name, 10 that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, 11 and every tongue acknowledge that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father” (Philippians 2:6-11).
We have already touched on humility several weeks ago, so I’m not going to go over the point again. But I do have to take a moment to recognize where there is sacrifice, there is humility.
John Robert Fox willingly gave his life so that others might live, regroup and defeat the enemy. Christ willingly took the form of man and gave up the splendor of heaven to come to earth as a sacrifice for our sin. He did not hold onto His position and power, but instead laid it all down to be a humble servant and gave up His life on a cross.
Jesus chose to willingly obey the will of his father rather than demand his own will. In the garden just before Jesus was arrested, Jesus prayed: “Father, if you are willing, take this cup from me; yet not my will, but yours be done” (Luke 22:42).
Jesus knew, in order to rescue the world from the curse of sin, it would cost Him His life. Jesus loved the heavenly father so much that He was willing to lay down His life. Jesus trusted the heavenly father completely and loved you with an everlasting love, so much that He was willing to lay down his life for you.
Jesus also told his disciples: “Anyone who loves me will obey my teaching. My Father will love them, and we will come to them and make our home with them” (John 14:23).
The Cost
If you are going to follow in the footsteps of Christ, which is what it means to be a disciple, then you are going to experience sacrifice. Thankfully, Jesus is very straight-forward about this and He tells us this in the gospels.
‘Large crowds were traveling with Jesus, and turning to them he said: 26 “If anyone comes to me and does not hate father and mother, wife and children, brothers and sisters—yes, even their own life—such a person cannot be my disciple. 27 And whoever does not carry their cross and follow me cannot be my disciple.
28 “Suppose one of you wants to build a tower. Won’t you first sit down and estimate the cost to see if you have enough money to complete it? 29 For if you lay the foundation and are not able to finish it, everyone who sees it will ridicule you, 30 saying, ‘This person began to build and wasn’t able to finish.’
31 “Or suppose a king is about to go to war against another king. Won’t he first sit down and consider whether he is able with ten thousand men to oppose the one coming against him with twenty thousand? 32 If he is not able, he will send a delegation while the other is still a long way off and will ask for terms of peace. 33 In the same way, those of you who do not give up everything you have cannot be my disciples’ (Luke 14:25-33).
This is one of the more difficult passages in the New Testament. Jesus’ challenge is to give up family, plans, and position in the process of discipleship. Another way to say it, and to paraphrase the lesson of this passage, is to say, “You have to be willing to let go of everything as you follow Christ.”
Do you recall the story of a young man who went to Jesus and asked, teacher “what good must I do to get eternal life?” (Matthew 19:16). He asked with a sense of pride, thinking he had followed all the law of Moses that was required.
‘Jesus answered, “If you want to be perfect, go, sell your possessions and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me.” 22 When the young man heard this, he went away sad, because he had great wealth. 23 Then Jesus said to his disciples, “Truly I tell you, it is hard for someone who is rich to enter the kingdom of heaven. 24 Again I tell you, it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for someone who is rich to enter the kingdom of God.”’ (Matthew 19:21-24).
This young man realized in his heart that there still might have been issues in his life that needed to be addressed; but when confronted with sacrifice and selling his possessions, the young man went away sad because he did not want to let go of his earthly possessions in order to possess the spiritual treasures and eternal life that awaits every believer in Christ.
If Jesus sacrificed Himself to bring redemption, then we might very well need to do the same as we share redemption with others.
Crucified with Christ
This verse so clearly describes our position with Christ and our engagement with the world around us:
“I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I now live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me” (Galatians 2:20).
Yes, discipleship and sacrifice can be difficult. Yes, you need to be willing to let go of everything you once believed to be so incredibly important. Yes, there will be opposition.
But remember, God will be with you always. In fact, He lives in you, empowering you to live a life of faith. So as hard as it is to let go of things and make sacrifices don’t forget that He’s with you and He’s the perfect high priest:
“For we do not have a high priest who is unable to empathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are—yet he did not sin. 16 Let us then approach God’s throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need” (Hebrews 4:15-16).
Sacrifice takes courage, conviction, and confidence, but it’s worth it. It’s worth it.
So, here’s the encouragement today: throw off the past sin and shame that so easily entangles you. Run the race set out before you, looking to Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith who, for the joy set before Him, endured the cross.
Jesus sacrificed His life for the joy set before Him. And let me tell you today: there is a very real, deep abiding joy in serving Christ and others as you willingly sacrifice your life for someone else. There is joy in living obedient to your heavenly father.
Sacrifice can change Lives
Think about the last time you went out on a service project. You sacrificed time, energy, and possibly money to serve and be a blessing to someone else. And you know what? I bet it felt amazing, I bet you walked away having experienced a fullness that was different than you’d felt before.
I have learned and experienced myself that many who go on a missions trip often return from the trip, having ministered to others, and having been ministered to themselves. The person who went to serve others returned having been blessed and ministered to by God himself. The joy they experienced in serving others was greater than whatever sacrifice they had made or cost.
When we trade our selfish desires and wants for a life of discipleship and serving others, the sacrifices we make have meaning and purpose. The lives we serve have names and faces. When we serve others, we can see our selfless impact.
Without the sacrifice of Christ, there’s no redemption. And without the sacrifice of all the saints who’ve gone before us, there might not be a Faith Chapel church. Sacrifice is powerful, it can change the outcome of a battle—like the story I shared at the beginning of this message. It can change someone’s life who needs help. And it can redeem someone’s eternity.
Think about that for a moment. No matter how hard life has been; no matter how far from God you may feel here today; no matter how irredeemable you believe your life to be, the sacrifice of Christ was completely sufficient. And today is as good a day as any, to rise above the sin and shame of your past and accept the gift that God has given you through His son, Jesus.
As we conclude, I want to take a moment and remind you that today, the Sunday before Easter, is called Palm Sunday. Palm Sunday was the day Jesus rode a colt into Jerusalem. Jesus was treated like royalty and all the people laid their cloaks down before him as he rode along.
Friends, next week is Easter Sunday. It is a day when we celebrate the resurrection of Christ and the fulfillment of the prophecies about Him.
There were many contemporaries of Christ, many well educated and faithful people who did not recognize the fact that He was the Messiah. For them, the sacrifice was nothing more than the loss of a human life. But for those who believe, it’s the promise of eternal life.
How will the sacrifice of Christ change your life this coming week? What are some things that you may need to let go of in order to give your life, time, money, and your heart to Christ, so that others may experience the life of the gospel as you have? What are some areas of your life that Jesus may be calling you to greater sacrifice?
The life of faith can, and will, be a costly one, but remember that Christ is always with you, He will never leave you nor forsake you.
Over the last few weeks, we have looked at temptation, humility, confession and sacrifice all in preparation for this coming Easter Sunday, the day Jesus rose from the grave victorious over sin, death, hell, and the grave. Easter is the day God’s love reigns supreme. It’s a day like no other; the day Jesus rose from the dead and is alive forever; the day the enemy of your soul was defeated.
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